Two years later, Deondre ‘Day Day’ Howard’s murder still unsolved. Police ask for help
As the two-year anniversary of the murder of Deondre “Day Day” Howard approaches, Fresno police are once again asking for witnesses to come forward.
Howard, a popular Edison High and Fresno City College athlete, was killed about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 29, 2015 outside his mother’s condo on North Charles Avenue in northwest Fresno.
Police confirmed in February 2016 that they had identified a suspect. Friday, police reconfirmed that fact but said they aren’t releasing the suspect’s name so as not to taint the investigation, Sgt. Andre Benson said. So far, no murder charge has been filed.
Homicide detectives “have a positive lead regarding the single suspect,” police said in a news release issued Friday.
Police want witnesses to come forward and help identify the suspect. “We know that not all witnesses have spoken to us,” Benson said. “We are looking for citizens who can confirm or deny information we have received.”
He was good student and a great athlete and and we want the person responsible to be held accountable.
Fresno police Sgt. Andre Benson
Anyone calling police can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 (STOP), Benson said. Also, anyone with information can contact homicide detectives Melanie Mayo at 559-621-2421 or Antonio Rivera at 559-621-2442.
On Aug. 29, 2015, Howard and his 16-year-old brother Dontay Howard were approached by a black male who began shooting at them. They were taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where Howard died two hours later. His brother survived with a graze wound to the neck.
Howard’s murder shook the community. He graduated from Edison High in 2013 where he played varsity football and baseball each of four years. The left-handed pitcher was a three-time Fresno Bee baseball All-Star, and had dreams of becoming a professional athlete.
Neither brother had a criminal record and there were no signs the shooting was gang related, police said.
“These two young men were not gang members or involved in criminal activity,” Benson said. “He was good student and a great athlete and and we want the person responsible to be held accountable.”
Lewis Griswold: 559-441-6104, @fb_LewGriswold
This story was originally published August 25, 2017 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Two years later, Deondre ‘Day Day’ Howard’s murder still unsolved. Police ask for help."